Method of making multicolor screens



April l0, 1928.

' l c. E. K. MEEs lMETHOD OF MAKING MULTICOLOR SCREENS Filed Jan. 8, l1927 Fig 1 IN1/ENT Charles E. f6. Meesf yBY fxgma 7' A TTORNEVYS.

pr. .10, n 1.1151111313A STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES KENNETH MEES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION E NEW YORK.

METHOD OF MAKING MULTICOLOR SCREENS.

Application filed January 8, 1927. Serial NaI-159,816.

This invention relates to a process of making multi-color screens for usein color photography, such screens being of the type comprising Aa layer otjuxtaposed minute,

.l non-overlapping particles, lines or areas of any number of different colors in any pre- Yerred pattern or arrangement.

Among the objects of the invention are the making of such a screen by a mechanical printing process, the ready determination of lack of register between the diil'erent color components, the ready adjustment of such registration, the prevention of diffusion between particles of diiierent colors, and uniform colorA over di'erent portions of the screen.

These andxothenobjects of my invention are obtained by printing the screen by an offset printing process, the several color components, each comprising separated blocks or dots, being successively deposited upon a blanket in proper-registry one with the other so as to form on the blanket a multi-color design, whichis then transferred as a unit 25, to the final screen support. The color materials` used are preferably water inks carrying in suspension' water-insoluble, spiritsoluble dyes which are transferred to the support by coating the latter' with a volatile solvent for the dyes. 'A

My improved process will now b'e more fully explained, referenjce being made to the accompanying drawings inL-which-f- Fig. 1 is a side view4 of appartus for a5 carrying out my invention, Fig. 2 is a top view of such apparatus, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of afragment of a printing mem er -for one color component of the screen,

Fig. 4. is an enlarged viewof a fragment ofthe completed screen,

Fig. 5 is a side view of a different form of apparatus for carrying out my'invention. l It is to be understood that Figs. 1, 2 and 5 are largely diagrammatic, thedetails of the machine not being necessaryto an understanding of the invention.

A roller 1 has a peripheral rubber blanket 2 .such as is customarily usedin offset printing processes. This roller is' supported by edge grooves 3 on rails 4 of van elongated frame 5, over which it is adapted to roll. Between the grooves are seats 6 for a series of forms 7, 8 and 9 and a support 10 for a I sheet 11 tosbe printed upon. Each seat 6 has around its edge vscrews 12 by which the positions of the forms may be carefully adjusted.

rlhe forms 7, 8 and 9, carry, respectively, elements of a multi-colorpatternscreen o the type composedof ,non-overlapping dots, lines or areas in any preferred pattern or arrangement. The size of the individual areas vwould depend lin part on the use to which they were to be put. For instance, if the sheet upon which they are to be printed is a motion picture iilm, the areas or lines would be very small, say of the order of 200 to 400 to the linear inch.

A portion of a typical design for one component is shown in Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale, the areas 13 being the printing areas. The three components are complementary and yield a multi-color design iillingthe area as indicated in Fig. 4, where the several colors are indicated by the three different sets of areas, 14, 15 and 16.

Each of the forms 7, 8 and 9 carries a suitable printing member which may be relief, intaglio or planographic, made by any desired process, though I prefer aplanographic process.I

These three suitable forms 7, 8 and 9 are made and'placed' in approximate registry in the several seats 6. The roller is then passe over them and inks ,are'transferred from the several forms in .succession to the rubber blanket 2, .which then prints them simultaneously upon the sheet 11. The design can be examined, either upon the blanket 2 or upon the printed sheet 11 for defects in registration, these defects being then, overcome by adjustment of screws 12v.

The inks used may be any of thoseI commonly'employed for planographic or'other printing processes and chosen for their relative color value. I prefer to use a Water ink in which'is carried in very high concentration, in suspension, a water-insoluble, spirit-soluble dye in powder form. This would be applied to the form by rolling vin the usual manner and would be transferred to the blanket 2. The support 1l is then moistened with a volatile solvent for the ink and the roller carrying the three color patterns in proper registration is passed over d: over a trial sheet 11. The l the sheet. The solvent will enable the support -to absorb the dye from the blanket without transferring the medium n which am aye was had. The blanket will aan be cleaned before the next printing is made Typical dyes for use in this process are the following Red- Aurine (5 parts) spirits magenta (1 )art 'I Grieen--Metanil yellow (5 parts) toluidine green (1 part).

Blue-Alizarine sapphire. Y V

These dyes are well known and a description of their constitution and properties Will be found in dye lists and catalogs.

In another 'forni of apparatus shown in Fig. 5, the roller`20 carries a peripheral rubber blanket 21 which contacts successively with three printing rollers 22, these heing inked from inking rollers 23 passing through ink troughs 24.

Roller 20, turning in a counter-clockwise direction, passes these rollers 22 and the several color components of the screen are dcvposited on the blanket 21, upon which they may be examined by the microscope 24. The rollers are capable of independent adjustment on their shafts 31.

vA continuous strip or band of material, 25, such as film, which may be of a composition including cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose ethcr,iviscose or other eellulosic material, is directed from a supply roll 26 and guide rolls 27 over a printing roll 28, by which it is pressed into contact with blanket 21,` to take up roller 29. The film and blanket move at the same speed. Just before contacting the blanket, the film is moistened at 30 with a material such as methyl alcohol, which is a solvent for the dyes and also is capable of penetrating the material of the film. This causes the dyes to be transferred from the blanket and absorbed bythe film. The film then passes through a drier 31 before being rolled up'. The blanket passes a cleaner 32 before again receiving ink from i the rollers 22. There is thus left, embodied in the/ material of the support, a multicolor screen pattern.

This may be treated for use in any of the well known color processes, as by coating with a sensitized layer, as is described in the patents, McDonough 611,457, September 27, 1898; Lumiere, 822,532. June 5, 1906;

Eastman 1,028,337, June 4. 1912, and others.

It is obvious that modifications are possi-A ble and I contemplate as included in my invention all such modifications and equivalents as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making a multi-color meente multicolor screen pattern composed of inks consisting of water-insoluble, spirit-soluble dyes in water suspension, moistening a eellulosic support with a material in which the dyes are soluble and which is capable of penetrating the support and then at once submitting thesupport and screen to contact under pressure, whereby the dyes are transferred from the blanket to the support and are embodied therein.

3. The method of making a multi-color pattern screen which comprises the steps of forming upon a printing blanket, a series ot complementary, non-overlapping, differently colored designs, constituting a multi-color screen pattern capable of use in a photographiccolor process, and composed of inks consisting of' finely powdered, transparent, water-insoluble, spirit-soluble dyes in water suspension, moistening a support with a material in which the dyes are soluble and then submitting the support and blanket to contact whereby the dyes of the pattern as a whole are transferred from the blanket to the support.

4. The method of making a multi-color pattern screen, capable of use in a photographic color process, which comprises the steps ot forming a plurality of printing forms, having complementary printing areas, applying to said several forms inks..

of different colors and comprising water suspensions of vfinely divided, spirit-soluble, water-insoluble, transparent dyes, transferring said inks from said forms in succession and in non-overlapping registration upon a flexible printing blanket, thereby forming thereon a multi-color screen pattern of non-overlapping color areas, applying to a cellulosic support a materialv in which the dyes are soluble and which is capable of penetrating said cellulosic support, and then at once submitting the support and screen carrying blanket to contact under pressureV whereby the d ves are transferred by a single operation from the blanket to the support and are embodied in the support.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 4th day of January, 1927. i

CHARLES E. KENNETH Mans. 

